Finish Strong: Earn Your Associate Degree Before You Transfer

August 05, 2025

Posted by STLCC in Programs and Pathways

Each year, thousands of students start at a community college. They pick this path for many reasons such as to save money, stay close to home and earn an exceptional education. Many plan to transfer to a four-year university to earn a bachelor’s degree and that goal makes sense. But the timing of the transfer matters more than most realize.

St. Louis Community College encourages its students to earn an associate degree even if they plan to eventually earn their bachelor’s. Often students take advantage of the CORE 42 program that allows them to transfer 42 class hours of approved courses to any Missouri state college or university. Once they complete those at STLCC, they move on to a four-year school.

So, why bother getting those additional 18 hours and earn an associate degree?

Students might think getting to the university faster means they’ll finish faster. But that’s not always true. In fact, earning an associate degree can help you succeed more in the long run.

Studies show that students who graduate with an associate degree before transferring are more likely to finish their bachelor’s degree and do it faster. They also tend to get better grades at their university.

Earning an associate degree also shows that you’ve completed two full years of college-level work. It’s more than just credits — it’s a solid achievement. Students who reach this goal often feel more prepared, more confident and more focused when they move on to a university. They’ve crossed a clear finish line and gained important academic skills.

There are also mental benefits. Earning a degree gives students a big confidence boost. It proves they can succeed in college. That success makes it easier to face the challenges of a bigger, faster-paced university. Students who transfer early sometimes feel like they’re starting from scratch. Students who finish their associate degree bring pride and momentum with them.

St. Louis Community College provides students time to grow in a more intimate and supportive setting. With smaller class sizes, students get more help from teachers and our academic success and tutoring department. They build strong relationships, join clubs and take on leadership roles. These experiences help them become more responsible, more organized and more confident. When students transfer before getting their associate degree, they often miss these chances.

And, sometimes, life happens, and an associate degree gives students more flexibility. You never know if you need to make a career change or a personal issue requires you to pause your education. If you’ve earned an associate degree, you have a college degree and that’s a valuable credential. It can help you get a better job or return to school later without starting over.

So, if you’re starting at STLCC, think about your next step carefully. Don’t just transfer early to speed things up because, again, it doesn’t necessarily get you to that bachelor’s any faster. Stay, finish, and earn your associate degree. It’s a smart move that sets you up for long-term success.

Academic Strength: Build Knowledge, Build Confidence

One of the biggest benefits of earning an associate degree is academic. St. Louis Community College offers high-quality instruction, smaller classes and more one-on-one time with professors. Students who stay long enough to complete their degree build a stronger academic foundation.

When you transfer without an associate degree, you might:

Miss out on key classes that prepare you for higher-level work.
Enter a university without the general education credits fully completed.
Spend more time (and money) taking classes to catch up.
Not be as prepared to handle the rigor of a four-year college or university.

But if you finish your associate degree first, you arrive at the university ready. You bring two full years of completed work. You bring credits that count. And in many cases, you get a fresh start; your four-year college might not even look at your high school grades if you apply with a completed associate degree.

All Missouri state colleges and universities guarantee transfer of what’s known as the CORE 42. The program clearly outlines which classes you need to take to earn up to 42 credit hours that transfer to any state school. That’s not enough to get your associate degree and provides a great foundation for your associate degree, which as you can see can benefit you even if you go to a four-year school.

In 2028-29, the state plans to introduce a 60-credit-hour, transferable lower-division course block for five high-demand degree programs: general business, elementary education, general psychology, nursing, and general biology or biological sciences. This program will ensure that students who complete this course block at any Missouri public community college will have their credits entirely accepted by any public university offering the same program.

Earning your associate tells colleges and universities, “I’m serious. I follow through.” And that message matters when they are deciding who to admit.

Mental Benefits: Finish Line Motivation

College is hard work. Staying motivated can be a challenge, especially when life gets busy. That’s why completing an associate degree gives your mind a powerful boost. Crossing the finish line after two years gives you:

A sense of pride and accomplishment.
Proof that you can succeed in college.
Motivation to keep going.

Students who transfer without finishing might ask themselves, “Did I mess up?” or “Why didn’t I just finish?” or “Could that associate degree have helped in some way?” They sometimes carry the weight of an unfinished degree and a basketful of “what ifs?”

But students who earn that degree walk away with a real achievement. Even if they pause their education after community college, they still have something to show for it. They have a degree that can help them get a better job or go back to school later. That kind of mental boost builds confidence.

It also helps when you reach your new university. Students who already have a degree are often more prepared. They already know how to:

Handle the rigors of higher-level courses.
Manage their time.
Write college-level essays.
Solve real problems.
Ask for help when needed.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed, they feel ready.

Social Benefits: Grow in a Supportive Community

Community colleges are more than classrooms. They’re full of people — students, teachers, advisors, tutors — who want you to succeed. When you stay long enough to earn your degree, you build stronger relationships and deeper connections.

At a community college, you can:

Work more closely with professors.
Get more involved in campus leadership.
Make more friends who understand your journey.
Join clubs and organizations that meet your interests.

Those connections help you grow. They make college feel less scary and more meaningful. Many students who transfer without earning a degree don’t get the full benefit of the community college experience. They come and go quickly, missing the chance to find mentors, explore interests or try out leadership roles.

But when you stick around and earn your degree, you learn how to speak up, step forward and stand out. These are necessary skills that will help you when you move on to a bigger campus and later into life.

Financial Benefits: Save Now, Earn Later

Let’s face it: college is expensive. One of the biggest reasons students choose community college is to save money. But that savings is even greater if you stay long enough to finish your degree. STLCC offers you a great option for a top-notch education and not break the bank.

Keep this in mind:

St. Louis Community College charges $122 per credit hour for in-district students and $171 for out-of-district students.
Four-year state university charge anywhere between $300–$400 per credit hour.

Do the math. A 60-class credit associate degree at the College is about $14,000 less expensive than doing your first two years at a Missouri state school. Even if you had planned to earn your CORE 42 and transfer, think again. If you complete your associate degree at STLCC, working with the four-year school of your choice to make sure the classes you take transfer, you’d still save a bunch.

And for those who have to work while in college, having an associate degree provides a great advantage. Think about it: Who would an employer want to hire more, someone who worked hard to earn a college degree or someone who didn’t. Sometimes, you’ll be able to use the degree to get a job in the field in which you want to have a career.

When you complete an associate degree, you bring a finished package with you. You don’t waste time or money. You make the most of your education.

More Flexibility, More Options

Life doesn’t always go as planned. Maybe you need to take a break. Maybe you change your career path. Maybe a family emergency comes up.

If you transfer without a degree, you leave with nothing official if you stop partway through your university program. But if you earned your associate degree, you still have something solid — a recognized, respected credential. With an associate degree, you can:

Apply for jobs in your field.
Return to school later with confidence.
Start a new path without starting from scratch.

It’s like saving your game before moving to the next level. If anything goes wrong, you don’t lose everything. You have something to fall back on.

What the Research Says

This isn’t just opinion. Studies show that students who finish an associate degree before transferring often do better at the university level. According to the Community College Research Center:

Students who complete an associate degree before transferring are more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree.
They also tend to graduate faster. According to the study, they were 49% more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree within four years and 22% more likely to earn one within six years in contrast to those who didn’t earn an associate degree.
They often have higher GPAs after they transfer.

Why? Because they take the time to finish something first. They gain the skills, habits and confidence needed to succeed at the next level.

Universities notice this too. Many now encourage students to “transfer with a degree.” Some even offer special scholarships or programs for transfer students who come in with an associate degree.

What You Can Do Right Now

If you’re an STLCC student or thinking about attending the College, here’s how you can make the most of your time:

Meet with an academic, career and transfer (ACT) advisor early and often. Ask about degree programs, transfer pathways and how to earn your associate.
Ask about transfer agreements with local universities. Some guarantee admission and credit transfer.
Plan your classes so they meet the requirements for both the associate degree and your four-year school of choice.
Stay on track to graduate in two to three years. Ask for help if you get behind.
Get involved on campus. Join a club, attend a workshop or volunteer.
Finish your associate degree — and celebrate when you do!

The Bottom Line: Finish What You Start

STLCC will support you throughout the process. From when you come to visit, to when you register, to providing tutoring to help you get through. Earning your associate degree can be one of the smartest choices you make. It gives you power. It helps you progress. It shows the world, including yourself, that you can finish strong.

So, if you're thinking about transferring, think about this first: What’s the rush? Why not earn the associate degree, take pride in your work and set yourself up for even greater success?

Finishing your associate degree doesn’t slow you down. It lifts you up.